Heat pump with sliding interface

ABSTRACT

A blower and heat exchanger component of a heat pump includes a physically moveable service panel. The service panel can slide out on a first side or on a second side opposite to the first side, where an existing air duct connects to a third side that is orthogonal to the first and second sides. This sliding service panel configuration allows a same blower/heat exchanger component to adapt the duct being located on either side of the unit (e.g., by installing the component rotated by 180° within the installation space as appropriate). The service panel can slide out on both sides of the component, thereby affording access for service, irrespective of orientation of the component as installed relative to the duct.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Heat pumps are useful for many purposes. A prominent application for a heat pump is as a component for a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system used to control ambient temperature within an environment. One example of such an environment is a residential or industrial building space.

SUMMARY

A blower and heat exchanger component of a heat pump, includes a physically moveable electrical service panel. The service panel can slide out on a first side and on a second side opposite to the first side, where an existing air duct connects to a third side that is orthogonal to the first and second sides. This sliding service panel configuration allows a same blower/heat exchanger component to adapt the duct being located on either side (e.g., by installing the component rotated within the installation space as appropriate). The service panel can slide out on either the first side or the second side of the component in order to afford access for service, irrespective of orientation of the component as installed relative to the duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of a heat pump in a cooling mode of operation.

FIG. 2 shows a simplified view of a heat pump in a heating mode of operation.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified top view of a heat pump component according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an embodiment of a heat pump component deployed in a right hand corner.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a heat pump component in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 shows a top view of an embodiment of a heat pump component deployed in a left hand corner.

FIG. 7 shows a side perspective view of a heat pump component in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 shows a simplified flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are methods and apparatuses implementing an interface for a heat pump. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous examples and specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments according to the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments as defined by the claims may include some or all of the features in these examples alone or in combination with other features described below, and may further include modifications and equivalents of the features and concepts described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of a ground source heat pump 100 in a cooling mode of operation. FIG. 2 shows a simplified view of a ground source heat pump in a heating mode of operation.

A heat pump may comprise the following five (5) elements.

-   -   1) A compressor 101 that moves working fluid (refrigerant) 102         through a circuit 104.     -   2) A primary side heat exchanger 106 that exchanges heat with         the controlled temperature space 108.     -   3) A secondary side heat exchanger 110 that sources/sinks heat         into the space 112 outside of the temperature controlled space.     -   4) A metering valve 114 which regulates the flow of refrigerant         through the circuit.     -   5) A reversing valve 116 which changes the flow direction of         refrigerant, allowing the circuit to extract or add heat to the         temperature controlled space.

FIGS. 1-2 show a ground source heat pump, where the space outside of the temperature controlled space is the ground. However, other types of heat pumps are possible, for example air-source heat pumps where the space outside of the temperature controlled space is the air of the surrounding environment.

One particular type of heat pump includes a blower 109 and an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. That heat exchanger controls temperature in the space by recirculating air through ducting to/from the temperature-controlled interior space and through the heat pump.

Such a heat pump can add or remove heat from this airflow to provide any desired air temperature setpoint inside the temperature-controlled interior space.

FIG. 3 provides a simplified top view of a heat pump component 300 comprising a blower and a heat exchanger. This type of heat pump has a supply 302 air duct and a return 304 air duct. The supply duct provides temperature controlled airflow to the temperature controlled space.

The return duct accepts airflow back from the temperature controlled space. This allows the heat pump to add or remove heat before sending it back to the temperature controlled space via the supply duct.

The orientation and location of the supply and return ducts in buildings are not standardized. One configuration is to have the supply duct positioned so that the supply airflow comes out vertically from the top of the unit, with the return duct located at one side.

Embodiments provide a heat pump component that is designed to allow for deployment in the particular location that is dictated by the layout of ducting within a building. For example, the heat pump component could be deployed in a right hand corner, with the return duct present on the left hand side (as shown in FIG. 4 ).

Alternatively, the same heat pump component design could be deployed in a left hand corner. There, simply rotating (e.g., by 180°) the unit affords the return duct on the right hand side (as shown in FIG. 6 ).

According to such embodiments, depending upon the deployment either of the sides orthogonal to the right or left side, could actually serve as the front of the unit (e.g., facing a user). Thus, service-access to electrical components is provided in a panel that can slide in opposite directions, thereby permitting access irrespective of the particular deployment of the unit. It is noted that in some embodiments the panel can be slid out completely.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the component comprises a panel 310 that is slidably mounted 311 using, e.g., rails 312. The panel can be slid in opposite directions.

The panel comprises one or more of electrical connections and electrical components features, including but not limited to:

-   -   contactors     -   relays     -   fuses;     -   bus bars;     -   cables;     -   terminal blocks.

To realize electrical service from either side of the unit as installed, the design approach allows the electrical panel to slide out of the unit from either end. This permits assignment of either side of the unit as the front.

The unit can then be positioned according to the ducting requirements right or left airflow return. Assignment of the front is no longer required from an electrical servicing perspective.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an embodiment of a heat pump component deployed in a right hand corner. FIG. 5 shows a side view of a heat pump component in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 shows a top view of an embodiment of a heat pump component deployed in a left hand corner. FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a heat pump component in FIG. 6 showing the blower 701, the supply 702, the return 704, and the bi-directionally sliding panel 706.

The above description illustrates various embodiments of the present invention along with examples of how aspects of the present invention may be implemented. Other embodiments are possible.

For example, while the above description shows particular embodiments of FIGS. 3-7 in which the electrical panel is horizontal (e.g., a tray), this is not required. In alternative embodiments the panel could be oriented vertically (e.g., akin to a blade rather than a tray) while still sliding out in either direction to provide user access from either opposing side.

FIG. 8 shows a simplified flow diagram 800 of a method according to an embodiment. At 802, a heat pump including a bi-directionally sliding panel is received.

At 804, the panel is slid out of a first side to afford access to an electrical element. At 806 the heat pump is rotated.

At 808, an opening is aligned with a return duct. At 810 the panel is slid out on an opposite side to the first side to afford access to the electrical element.

The above examples and embodiments should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Based on the above disclosure and the following claims, other arrangements, embodiments, implementations and equivalents will be evident to those skilled in the art and may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a compressor; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor; a blower in thermal communication with the heat exchanger; a first side defining a first opening in fluid communication with the blower and in thermal communication with the heat exchanger; a second side opposite to the first side; a third side orthogonal to the first side; a fourth side opposite to the third side; and a panel including an electrical element and slidably mounted to extend out of the third side and out of the fourth side.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the panel is slidably mounted on a rail.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the panel is horizontally oriented.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the panel is vertically oriented.
 5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical element comprises a service indicator.
 6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical element comprises a serviceable electrical component.
 7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical element affords service access.
 8. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a second opening orthogonal to the first, second, third, and fourth sides and in fluid communication with the blower.
 9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: the second opening is defined in a top side to comprise a supply; and the first opening comprises a return.
 10. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a ground loop.
 11. A method comprising: receiving a heat pump comprising, a compressor, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor, a blower in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, a first side defining a first opening in fluid communication with the blower and in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, a second side opposite to the first side, a third side orthogonal to the first side, a fourth side opposite to the third side, and a panel including an electrical element and slidably mounted to extend out of the third side and out of the fourth side; sliding the panel out of the third side to afford access to the electrical element; rotating the heat pump; placing the first opening into fluid communication with a return duct; and sliding the panel out of the fourth side to afford access to the electrical element.
 12. A method as in claim 11 further comprising placing a second opening defined in a top side into fluid communication with a supply duct.
 13. A method as in claim 11 wherein the electrical element comprises a service indicator.
 14. A method as in claim 11 wherein the electrical element comprises a serviceable electrical component.
 15. A method as in claim 11 wherein the electrical element affords service access.
 16. A method as in claim 11 wherein the panel is horizontally oriented.
 17. A method as in claim 11 wherein the panel is vertically oriented.
 18. A method comprising: providing a panel slidably configured to extend out of a first side of a heat pump and out of a second side of the heat pump opposite to the first end; rotating the heat pump to align a first opening in a third side orthogonal to the first and second sides, to a return duct; and sliding the panel out of the first side to afford a user access to an electrical element of the heat pump.
 19. A method as in claim 18 further comprising aligning a second opening defined in a top side of the heat pump, with a supply duct.
 20. A method as in claim 18 wherein the electrical element is an indicator or a control. 